Public Services & Infrastructure Goal 4

Municipal buildings, infrastructure and capital equipment will be maintained in the best possible condition in order to support the provision of services to the community and to stand ready to adapt to new growth or other demands.

2.1 Town Facilities Management Planning

STRATEGY: Develop and implement a facilities management plan that establishes long term capital maintenance needs for town buildings and other facilities and fund those improvements and maintenance activities in accordance with the plan.

JUSTIFICATION: The development of a facilities management plan will help the town to budget, or reserve, an adequate level of funding to maintain and repair its major facilities. Such a plan will also allow the town to have a greater amount of predictability into its long term budget forecasts. In the absence of a facilities management plan, even routine repairs and maintenance can be overlooked as budgets are prepared, leading to a greater potential to incur unbudgeted expenses to meet emergency needs. Properly planning for maintenance and repairs for facilities should also extend their period of usability, potentially preventing the need to replace substandard facilities prior to their anticipated obsolescence.

2.2 Capital Equipment Replacement Planning

STRATEGY: Develop and implement a cyclical capital equipment replacement schedule to ensure that all capital equipment is replaced according to equipment lifecycle guidelines and local needs.

JUSTIFICATION: Planning for and funding the regular replacement of capital equipment will help the town to ensure that it can continue to provide services without interruption or diminished capacity when equipment cannot perform as required due to age or obsolescence. Developing such a plan will also allow the town to forecast and budget the financial resources necessary to keep equipment up-to-date, thereby lowering the chances that unanticipated capital expenses will arise in the future.

2.3 Street Maintenance Planning

STRATEGY: Develop and implement a street maintenance plan that includes a street condition inventory and prioritizes scheduled street maintenance and improvement activities based on the severity of needs that exist in the street network.

JUSTIFICATION: The development of a street maintenance plan based on an analysis of pavement conditions and forecasted funding availability will allow the town to develop an objective long term strategy that ensures that streets in greatest need of rehabilitation are repaired in a timely manner. Such a plan will also allow the town to budget its anticipated revenues and expenditures more effectively and forecast the financial resources needed to maintain local streets over the long term.

2.4 Develop a Space Needs Analysis

STRATEGY: Prepare a space needs analysis to identify potential future deficiencies and plan for the development or acquisition of additional offices, storage, maintenance facilities and other space to continue to provide services as the community grows and changes over time.

JUSTIFICATION: As the town grows, whether through new development or annexation, its staffing, storage and maintenance needs will grow as well. Identifying the population and service level thresholds that will trigger the need for new facilities will help the town better prepare for growth and determine the necessary mitigation funding levels that are imposed through its adequate public facilities regulations. With a plan in place, the town can identify potential locations for future town facilities and plan for the acquisition of land and/or construction of new facilities in a timely manner. Ensuring that the town has adequate space available to meet the needs of its staff will also help to ensure that services can continue to be provided in an efficient manner as growth occurs.